Spray gun



pe.3o, 1952 `N. sM'nH SPRAY GUN Filed April 4, 1950 Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to spray guns and has special reference to valve control for such guns.

As pointed out in my copending application for patent filed April 4, 1950, Serial No. 153,939,.the valve control in most spray guns includes a man ually operable trigger or lever and a linkage connecting the same to the valve.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of spray gun wherein the usual trigger or lever and linkage controlling the valve Will be entirely eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel spray gun having a rubber-like tubular body so shaped as to produce longitudinal extension upon the middle portion of the body being circumferentially compressed.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of parts whereby elongation and contraction is length of the gun body will effect respectively the unseating and seating of the valve controlling the emission of the spray.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be presently apparent, the invention coni sists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly claimed.

In the drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views and Figure 1 is a longitudinal median section of the invention with certain parts shown partly in elevation;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail assembly showing the valve and. associated parts, the view being partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section.

In the embodiment of this form of the invention, there is provided a body i of rubber or other material having the rubber-like characteristics through which compression in one direc tion or plane `causes elongation in a direction at right angles to such compression. The body It is of tubular spindle shape and the ends of the body wall are relatively thick while the wall at the middle is relatively thin. Also, the wall gradually increases in thickness from the middle of the body to each thick end.

` The thick portion of the wall at one end is provided with an internal groove I I wherein is fitted a Washer I2. In the thick portion of the wall at the remaining end of the body there is provided an internal groove |3 wherein is tted a washer |4. Extending through the washer I2 is a nipple I5 having a circumferential rib i6 engaging against the outer face of the washer I2; The outer end of this nipple is threaded as at |'I or otherwise formed for attachment of a hose or the like for supplying fluid to the nipple. Within the nipple is a strainer I8 for preventing passage of undesirable material. The bore of the nipple at its inner end is enlarged to form a seat I3 for the inlet end of a fluid supply tube extending into the outlet end of the gun. Extending through the washer Iii is a nipple 2| having a shouldered portion 22 resting against and welded to the outer face of the washer I4. The bore of the nipple 2| is, at its inner end portion, provided with flattened oppositely disposed faces 23 and the terminal portion 24 of the tube is reduced and similarly shaped to t in the nipple 2| and be held against rotation With respectthereto. The outer part 25 of the bore of the nipple I4 is -circular in cross-section to provide a longitudinal channel 25 between each flat face of tube portion 24 and the wall of the bore. The outer end of the nipple 2| is externally threaded and screwed on this threaded end is a cap 26 having a centrally disposed spray opening 2'! formed in its outer end. Fitted against the inner face of this outer end is a disk 28 having an opening `29 therein registering with the opening 2l. A gasket 30 is seated between the periphery of the disk 28 and the outer end of the nipple 2|. The size of the opening 23 controls thevquantity of spray delivered from the gun, regard being had to the viscosity of the material being sprayed and the pressure under which it is delivered. The disk is thus arranged for interchange with others of different hole sizes.

The inner end of the nipple Y2| vis spirally grooved at 30 for a portion of its length but terminates in a reduced extremity 3|. Surrounding and welded to this extremity is one end of metallic bellows-like housing or Sylphon 32 which has its other end surrounding and welded to the oylindrical -portion of the tube 20. The tube 20 is grooved at 33 to receive a snap-ring 34 forming a collar on the tube. Fitted on the tube 20 is a nut 35 which engages against the collar 31|. This nut has the portion adjacent the collar provided with a spiral groove 36. A coiled tension spring 3i has one end fitted in the grooved portion of the nipple 2| and its other end iitted in the groove 35. The tension of this spring may be varied by rotating the nut 35 on the tube to control the spray.

The washer I4 is provided with an opening 38 through which extends a slidable and rotatable elongated nut 39 having a head fill on its outer end to form a limit stop to the movement of this nut through the washer. This nut has screw engagement with one end of a rod l which, at its other end, is provided `with a loop d2 surrounding and welded to the tube 2li. Also, the washer I4 is provided with a vent opening i3 so that air may pass freely in and out of the :body Iii.

The end ofthe tube 2@ `which enters the nipple 2| is closed by a plug @d carrying a head i5 having an enlarged portion llt fitting closely in the nipple 2| and provided with spiral `grooves il in its periphery to permit the passage of fluid. Screwed into the head is a valve i8 which normally closes the opening 29. The tube 2.- has communication to the bore of the nipple 2l, the housing 32 preventing escape of liquid into the body l0.

In operating this device the body lll is grasped in ones hand at its middle portion and compressed by squeezing. This causes the end portions of the body to move apart. The valve it being supported from the washer l2 moves away from the opening 2S against the action of the spring Si, the housing 32 expanding to permit such movement. Upon release of the squeezing pressure on the body It, the ends of the body will, assisted by the spring, move toward each other and the valve will close.

What is claimed is:

l. In a spray gun, an elongated tubular body of rubber-like material, said body being longitudinally extensible when circumferentially cornpressed, a pair of washers located one at either end'of said body, a spray nozzle secured to one of said washers, a rigid fluid supply tube secured to the yother washer and extending through said washer into said body, a normally closed valve for controlling the supply of fluid from said tube to said nozzle, one coacting member of said valve being xed to said nozzle and another such member Ilceing xed to `said tube, and Isealing means located within and spaced from said body for confining the flow of fluid between said tube and said nozzle and keeping the fluid out of contact with said body, whereby neither the dimensions nor the compressibility of said body are substantially affected by the iiuid pressure and whereby said washers are supported at a normal longitudinal spacing corresponding to valve closure when the body is free and said washer spacing is increased to open said valve when the bodyV is compressed.

2, A spray gun as claimed in claim l in which said sealing means is a bellows-like iiexible housing having its ends hermetically sealed respectively to said tube and said nozzle.

3. A spray gun as claimed in claim 1 in which said sealing means is a bellows-like flexible housing having its ends .hermetically sealed respectively to said tube and said nozzle, and in which said valve is normally held closed by a coil spring encircling said bellows-like housing.

4. A spray gun as claimed in claim l in which said body is of spindle shape having its wall gradually increasing in thickness from its center toward each end.

5., The combination rof a circumferentially compressible and longitudinally extensible body, of a washer fixed in one end of said body, fluid conducting means extending through said body and terminating at the other end of said body, a second washer fixed in the last named end of the body, a nipple extending through and fixed to said second washer, said nipple surrounding the terminal portion of the fluid conducting means, said means having a lateral port opening into said nipple, an apertured diaphragm in said nipple, a valve carried iby the fluid conducting means and normally closing the aperture, a collar on said fluid supply means and spaced from said nipple, a nut on said fluid supply means and engaging against the collar on the side remote from theA spindle, the confronting ends of the nut and nipple being spirally grooved, and a coiled tensioning spring having its ends engaged in said grooves.

6. The combination of a circumferentially compressi-ble and longitudinally extensible body, of a washer fixed in one end of said body, fiuid conducting meansv extending through said body and terminating at the other end of said body, a second washer fixed in the last named end of the body, a nipple extending through and fixed to said secondy washer; said nipple surroundingV the terminal portion of :the fluid conducting means', said means having a lateral port opening into said nipple, an apertured diaphragm in said nipple, a valve carried by the iiuid conducting means and normally closing the aperture, and a housing surrounding the iiuid supply means and having its ends hermetically secured respectively to said iiuid supply means and said nipple.

7. The combination of a circumferentially compressible and longitudinally extensible body, of a washer fixed inrone end of said body, fluid con ducting means extending through said body and terminating at the other end of said body, a second washer xed in the lastl named end of the body, a nipple extending through and `xed to said second washer, said nipple surrounding the terminal portion of the iluid conducting means, said meansr having a lateral port opening into said nipple, an apertured diaphragm in said nipple, a valve carried by the fluid conducting means and normally closing the aperture, spring means urging said valve against said diaphragm, and a housing surrounding the` fluid supply means and having its ends hermetically secured respectively to said liuid supply means and said nipple.

8. The combination of a circumferentially compressible and longitudinally extensible body, of a washerY fixed in one` endv of saidl body', iluid conducting means extending through said; body and terminating at the other end of said body; a second washer xed in the last named end'of the body, a nipple extending through and fixed to said second washer, said nipple surrounding the terminal portion of the fluid conducting means, said means having a lateral port open*- ing into saidnipple, an apertured diaphragm in said nipple, a valve carried by the iiuid conducting means and normally closing the aperture, spring means connecting said nipple and fluid supply means and urging' the valve against the diaphragm, and a housing surrounding the fluid supply means and having its ends hermeticall'y secured respectively to said fluid supply means and said nipple.

9. The combination of a circumferentially compressible and longitudinally extensible body, of a washer fixed in one end of said body, fluid conducting means extending through said body and terminating at the other end of said body, a second washer fixed in the last named end of the body, a nipple extending through and fixed to said second washer, said nipple surrounding the terminal portion of theY fluid conducting means, said means having a lateral port opening into said nipple, an apertured diaphragm in said nipple, a valve carried by the fluid conducting means and normally closing the aperture, a collar on said uid supply means and engaging against the collar on the side remote from the spindle, the confronting ends of the nut and nipple being spirally grooved, a coiled tensioning spring having its ends engaged in said grooves, and a housing surrounding the fluid supply means and having its ends hermetically secured respectively to said iiuid supply means and said nipple.

10. The combination of a circumferentially compressible and longitudinally extensible body, of a washer fixed in one end of said body, fluid conducting means extending through said body and terminating at the other end of said body, a second washer fixed in the last named end of the body, a nipple extending through and xed to said second washer, said nipple surrounding the terminal portion of the iiuid conducting means, said means having a lateral port opening into said nipple, an apertured diaphragm in said nipple, a valve carried by the fluid conducting means and normally closing the aperture, and a housing surrounding the fluid supply means and having its ends hermetically secured respectively to said fluid supply means and said nipple, said housing being of bellows-like form to constitute a Sylphon.

1l. The combination of a circumferentially compressible and longitudinally extensible body, of a washer fixed in one end of said body, fluid conducting means extending through said body and terminating at the other end of said body, a second Washer fixed in the last named end of the body, a nipple extending through and fixed to said second washer, said nipple surrounding the terminal portion of the uid conducting means, said means having a lateral port opening into said nipple, an apertured diaphragm in said nipple, a valve carried by the fluid conducting means and normally closing the aperture, spring means urging said valve against said diaphragm, and a housing surrounding the iiuid supply means and having its ends hermetically secured respectively to said fluid supply means and said nipple, said housing being of bellowslike form to constitute a Sylphon.

l2. The combination of a circumferentially compressible and longitudinally extensible body, of a washer fixed in one end of said body, fluid conducting means extending through said body and terminating at the other end of said body, a

second Washer fixed in the last namedend of the body, a nipple extending through and fixed to said second washer, said nipple surrounding the terminal portion of the fluid conducting means, said means having a lateral port opening into said nipple, an apertured diaphragm in said nipple, a valve carried by the fluid conducting means and normally closing the aperture, spring means connecting said nipple and fluid supply means and urging the valve against the diaphragm, and a housing surrounding the iiuid supply means and having its ends hermetically secured respectively to said fluid supply means and said nipple, said housing being of bellowslike form to constitute a Sylphon.

13. The combination of a circumferentially compressible and longitudinally extensible body, of a washer fixed in one end of said body, fluid conducting means extending through said body and terminating at the other end of said body, a second washer Xed in the last named end of the body, a nipple extending through and fixed to said second washer, said nipple surrounding the terminal portion of the fluid conducting means, said means having a lateral port opening into said nipple, an apertured diaphragm in said nipple, a valve carried by the uid conducting means and normally closing the aperture, a collar on said fluid supply means and engaging against the collar on the side remote from the spindle, the confronting ends of the nut and nipple being spirally grooved, a coiled tensioning spring having its ends engaged in said grooves, and a housing surrounding the iiuid supply means and having its ends hermetically secured respectively to said fluid supply means and said nipple, said housing being of bellows-like form to constitute a Sylphon.

NORMAN SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 90,215 Alexander May 1B, 1867 1,625,042 McArdle Apr. 19, 1928 1,992,490 Lewis Feb. 26, 1935 2,015,923 Davis e Oct. 1, 1935 2,121,354 Johnson June 2l, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 555,716 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1943 

